Super Gene Hunting Ground

Yang Xiao found Xiao Zhe.

"How many Crystal Coins do you have on hand now?"

"There are over a million Crystal Coins in Nanmu City now, and both Nanmu City and Shanyun City are bringing in over two hundred thousand Crystal Coins each day. However, the accounts of Nanmu City and Shanyun City are kept separate and independent. Without your approval, we don't dare to use them, so it's all stored on the Black Crystal Cards. Xia Luo has also opened a Black Crystal Card."

"I'm going to Magic City tomorrow. Can I borrow a few hundred thousand Crystal Coins in advance?"

Xiao Zhe was stunned for a moment, then laughed:

"Boss, do you really consider yourself an outsider? You are the king of both cities; all of this is yours. You can have as much as you want. Why even talk about borrowing?"

Yang Xiao smiled. He wasn't really accustomed to squandering public assets of the city as a king. It seemed that this psychological change required a process; he had always followed the principle of spending what he earned himself.

Without another word, Xiao Zhe took Yang Xiao's Black Crystal Card, ran down to the Genetic Store, and had Gu Bo transfer 500,000 Crystal Coins to Yang Xiao's Black Gold Card.

"That's enough. No need for so much," Yang Xiao said with a smile.

"Boss, Gu Bo also mentioned that you are going to Magic City for a meeting tomorrow. Although we are the kings of small cities, we still need to maintain the aura of a king. When it's necessary to spend money, we can't be stingy. We can't let the people of Magic City look down on us!"

Yang Xiao could only smile and, holding the Black Crystal Card, entered the desert once again.

Theoretically, Yang Xiao could redeem a Giant Eagle from any Genetic Store owner, but he went back to the very same Genetic Store where he had redeemed the Flame Horse. It was better to deal with someone he knew—no need for pleasantries, just get straight to business.

The owner of the Genetic Store looked at Yang Xiao and said,

"Kid, you're not an ordinary person."

Yang Xiao smiled:

"Is it such a big deal to spend a bit of money to buy a couple of Mutant Monsters?"

"Heh, it's not about whether you spend the money or not. With the same two million Crystal Coins, who else would be willing to give up their own Genetic Evolution to redeem two monsters?"

Yang Xiao just smiled, said nothing, and left the store.

The Giant Eagle had been eating a lot of Mutant Monsters lately, and its Genetic Evolution was progressing rapidly. It had reached the late stages of Intermediate Enhanced Gene and was not far from breaking through to the Advanced Enhanced Gene.

When the Giant Eagle found out it could follow Yang Xiao and the Flame Horse around from now on, it was thrilled and circled Yang Xiao, nuzzling against him with its head.

"Okay, stop fussing. I'm taking you to Magic City to meet Gong Yu. If you hit it off with him, then you can follow him from now on."

Gong Yu was the first to save the Giant Eagle, and when it heard this, it immediately fell silent, seemingly missing Gong Yu.

Yang Xiao, mounted on the Flame Horse, journeyed to the edge of the desert to a Genetic Store where he found Huang Wen and others. He gave them a few instructions, reminding them to often return to Nanmu City to check on things.

"I'll be going to Magic City this time, and I'm not sure about the timing. While I'm not home, you all need to visit more often, help Xiao Zhe, Xia Luo, and the others manage the two cities well, got it?"

Huang Wen nodded,

"Don't worry, we won't let home matters distract you."

Qin Yu laughed:

"Boss, isn't it a bit embarrassing for you to go to Magic City alone?"

Yang Xiao was taken aback.

"You're at least the king of two cities, how can you not have any attendants with you? How about Qin Yu and I still serve as your maids?"

Yang Xiao: "..."

"And we can also warm your bed, right?"

Chen Fei said jealously.

Yang Xiao chuckled and replied,

"None of you need to follow me. I'll be fine by myself. Stay home and behave; otherwise, I'll spank you when I get back."

After saying that, he took the Flame Horse and the Giant Eagle, and entered the Transmission Array, returning to Nanmu City.

Yang Xiao went into the Genetic Store, and Gu Bo smiled:

"Kid, are you looking forward to going to Magic City tomorrow? Excited?"

"Yes, I visited Magic City with my father before the apocalypse. My memory of it is still that of a supercity. I have no idea what it has become after the apocalypse. Also, I heard that Magic City has reached Level 25. There must be many Genetic Evolution Experts there, right?"

"You've made quite some progress recently. Nanmu City has advanced to Level 15 and has even annexed Shanyun City. Though it can't compare to Magic City, it's still impressive."

"I have to thank you, Elder Gu, for your support."

Gu Bo laughed heartily:

"This is all the result of your own efforts. It has nothing to do with me."

"When will the Transmission Array be available tomorrow?"

"Don't worry, just come by around noon."

Yang Xiao nodded.

Knowing that Yang Xiao was leaving for Magic City the next day, Xia Luo, Long Yongjun, and others made a special effort to come and see him off.

That night, Xiao Zhe arranged for Xu Nanqiang from the logistics team to prepare a special banquet. There was plenty of meat, and a rare treat: two bottles of refreshing pickled vegetables.

It had been a harsh winter for over half a year, and there were no fresh vegetables left. The potatoes stored by Kongming Academy had been consumed long ago, but thankfully, Nanmu City had ample reserves of rice, flour, and oil. Along with a generous supply of Ice Fish, life was going on without issues.

The bottled pickles left from supermarkets before the apocalypse were considered a rare delicacy now.

Xu Nanqiang also specially approved a few bottles of fine liquor.

Yang Xiao always insisted on not having special treatment. Usually, everyone ate from the same big pot, so these pickled vegetables were only occasionally shared among everyone.

And drinking alcohol was even less common.

Huang Wen and others happened to return as well, and a group of over a dozen people drinking and feasting made for a lively scene.

This group of friends, who had formed bonds in the apocalypse as strong as life itself, considered each other the most cherished family.

The next day at noon, the Transmission Array opened a temporary passage to Magic City, and Gu Bo gave Yang Xiao a plaque for participating in the City King Conference.

"This plaque is your pass to the King's Conference. Make sure not to lose it."

Yang Xiao nodded, took his Flame Horse and Giant Eagle, and entered the Transmission Array, leaving Nanmu City.

Xia Luo and Long Yongjun returned to Shanyun City and Star Moon Town respectively, while Huang Wen and others headed back to the desert.

...

Magic City, which was a super economic city in Xuanming Country before the apocalypse and the world's super economic city, had also suffered a severe blow in the apocalypse. From a population of over twenty million, now only about two hundred thousand youths remained.

The mighty river flowed from west to east through most of Xuanming Country, eventually passing Magic City and emptying into the sea.

The sea near Magic City is known as the Divine Sea.

At this moment, the entire Divine Sea had been frozen into thick layers of ice, extending hundreds of kilometers away.

About 20 kilometers from Magic City, in the East Sea, a young man was using a golden Longsword in his right hand to stab into the ice below. Like slicing tofu, he carved the ice into one-meter-square blocks, then cut them out entirely and kicked them away with a foot.

The young man was handsome, with an extraordinary air about him. At first glance, he gave off an impressive vibe.

However, upon a closer look, his face bore a trace of bitter tenacity, a look of someone who had experienced hardships yet was still gritting their teeth and persevering.

The young man only had his right hand; his left arm was missing, with only a stump remaining, with the entire forearm gone.

He was Gong Yu.

Today, Gong Yu was fortunate. After walking more than a dozen miles, he finally spotted the outline of a big fish beneath the ice.

Since Gong Yu returned from the desert and had a falling-out with Xie Dong, resulting in his left hand being cut off, he had been abandoned by his friends. He could no longer obtain Evolution resources from Magic City University, nor did anyone want to team up with him to dig for Ice Fish in the East Sea.

It was extremely challenging to extract an Ice Fish on one's own strength, especially here in the East Sea, where many giant fish were under meters of thick ice, requiring one to dig through the thick layers to reach them.

Gong Yu had tried digging for Ice Fish in the nearby Huangpu River. Firstly, it had been overfished by others, and secondly, the Level of Ice Fish there was low. Even if he could catch some, they did not provide enough Evolution Energy.

Today he was lucky. Through the ice, he saw a Giant Fish trapped about 2 meters below. The area was deserted and, because it was rare to find Giant Fish here, people usually didn't bother coming to this part of the sea.

(Two more installments tonight. Thanks to the book friend 'Low-key reading' for the 500 Qidian Coin reward, and 'You squeeze me I squeeze you' for the 500 Qidian Coin reward. Thank you all for your support!)